Review: S.T.K. Miami Barracuda Limited Edition Maduro 2014

What better cigar to smoke when living on the Gulf Coast, than George Rico's S.T.K. Miami Barracuda LE Maduro 2014? Well, I guess the original Barracuda would as well, but I smoked that a couple years ago, and doubt I can find more. But, today I am talking about the Limited Edition Maduro. Which, other than the band not having the Barracuda on it, so closely resembles the original that it's hard to tell them apart. Let's see how this Maduro plays out.

S.T.K. Miami Barracuda LE Maduro 2014 by George Rico

Size: 5 x 52

Vitola: Robusto

Wrapper:Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro

Binder:Nicaragua

Filler: Nicaragua

Cigars Smoked for this Review: One

Price Point: $8.50

Cigar Purchased: Samples

Quick Note: For this review I used the CF rating system. You can view it in detail here.

The pre-light and foot aromas give off a strong, pleasant scent of deep, sugary sweet tobacco with some slight earth and leather notes in the background. It's one of those times that I am pleasantly surprised by the strength of the pre-light aroma. The cold draw is perfectly smooth and there is a very slight tingle from the tobacco as I draw, with some nice cedar notes.

The first third of the S.T.K. Miami Barracuda LE Maduro 2014 starts out nicely. That deep, sugary sweetness from the pre-light turns into a brown sugar note. Kind of a brown sugar and tobacco flavor really. No spice and it leaves a tad bit dry on the aftertaste. The flavors evolve into a brown/cane sugar note with a sweet cedar flavor towards the end. The burn is razor sharp and the ash is tightly packed, with great charcoal banding.

The second third continues many of the traits as the first. Lots of brown sugar and sugar cane notes, backed up by a sweet cedar. The retrohale was smooth and mild in the first third, but now it has quite a bit more bite. The body of the cigar has ramped up as well, to a solid medium-full for me. As you can see, the construction is dead on. Perfect burn and a solid, well formed ash.

The final third saw a bit of a change-up in flavors. Although I was still getting that deep sugar sweetness, I started to get some white pepper and the earth and leather from the pre-light finally stepped in. The burn, ash and smoke production have been excellent.

As good as this Barracuda Maduro was, it just didn't hit everything for me. I can only imagine it was the Pennsylvania Broadleaf Maduro. It creates a different profile than the Connecticut Broadleaf Maduro, of which I really enjoy. I would definitely pick up a couple more if I found them. I honestly feel that I need to smoke more to catch all the flavors from this cigar, to do it full justice.

Yea, not going to make a list for me. I went and checked out their review since you said it and yea. His review seemed so-so, but the final score was really gung-ho, awesome. Not sure what was up with that.

It was good and I want to smoke a couple more, but it won't become a staple for me. Limited Edition or not. I think the Zulu Zulu blows this one away.